The US Federal Reserve has left its key interest rate unchanged at a time of solid economic gains but also heightened uncertainty surrounding the new Trump administration. After its policy meeting, the Fed said the job market continued to strengthen,<br/>inflation has climbed closer to its 2 per cent target and economic activity remains steady. But it signaled that it wants more time to monitor the economy and that it still envisions a gradual pace of rate increases. It offered no hints about when it will resume raising rates.<br/>'<br/>Many economists think the Fed may put off further rate increases until more is known about President Donald Trump's<br/>ambitious agenda, or whether his drive to cancel or rewrite trade deals will slow growth or unsettle investors.<br/><br/>The statement was not accompanied by updates to the Fed's economic forecasts or by a news conference with Chair Janet Yellen, both of which occur four times a year.<br/>''''''''